The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday (March 13) only Britain could chart a way out of the stalemate after UK lawmakers rejected for the second time the bloc's divorce deal agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May.

The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday (March 13) only Britain could chart a way out of the stalemate after UK lawmakers rejected for the second time the bloc's divorce deal agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May.

Speaking at a debate on Brexit at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Barnier also questioned whether there was any point in delaying Britain's departure from the EU beyond March 29, saying that the British government would need to justify any request.

He said that whatever happened, the withdrawal treaty he had agreed with May would remain the only deal on offer.

He ruled out offering any more assurances on the controversial Irish backstop beyond those given by the EU to May on Monday, before the British parliament rejected the deal.

Britain's parliament will vote later on Wednesday on whether to leave the EU in 16 days without an agreement.

On Thursday (March 14), it will then vote on whether to ask the EU for a delay to Brexit, something to which all the bloc's other 27 members must agree.